ANCHOR, Stay NJ and Senior Freeze applications are due November 2. Here is what homeowners in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties should know.

If you own a home in South Jersey, especially if you are 65 or older, there is an important date you do not want to overlook.

📅 November 2, 2026

That is the deadline to apply for New Jersey's 2025 property tax relief programs, including ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ. Depending on your age, income and eligibility, these programs could provide meaningful property tax relief.

If you live in Burlington County, Camden County or Gloucester County, take a few minutes to check whether you need to file. And if you have a parent, relative or neighbor who may qualify, send this information to them too.

What Is the 2026 ANCHOR Deadline in New Jersey?

The deadline to submit a 2025 ANCHOR application is November 2, 2026.

For eligible New Jersey homeowners, ANCHOR benefits are based on 2025 New Jersey gross income:

$1,500 for homeowners with income of $150,000 or less

$1,000 for homeowners with income between $150,001 and $250,000

Homeowners with New Jersey gross income above $250,000 are not eligible for the 2025 homeowner benefit.

Most eligible homeowners under age 65 who are not receiving Social Security Disability or Railroad Retirement Disability benefits were automatically filed by the state. ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letters were sent in August 2026.

If you received a confirmation letter and the information was correct, you generally did not need to submit another application.

If you did not receive a confirmation letter and believe you qualify, you can still apply by the November 2 deadline.

South Jersey Homeowners 65 and Older: Do Not Assume You Were Automatically Filed

This is the part I especially want senior homeowners and their families to pay attention to.

Senior homeowners are not automatically filed for ANCHOR.

Homeowners who were 65 or older, as well as certain people receiving Social Security Disability or Railroad Retirement Disability benefits, must submit New Jersey's combined PAS-1 Property Tax Relief Application.

The good news is that you do not have to complete separate applications for each program.

The PAS-1 application is used to determine eligibility for:

🏡 ANCHOR

❄️ Senior Freeze

💰 Stay NJ

The New Jersey Division of Taxation determines which programs you qualify for and the applicable benefit amounts.

The PAS-1 filing deadline is also November 2, 2026.

How Much Could Stay NJ Provide in 2027?

Stay NJ is specifically designed to provide property tax relief to eligible New Jersey homeowners age 65 and older.

For benefits connected with the 2025 tax year, you or your spouse generally must have been at least 65 during 2025, owned and lived in the home for all 12 months of 2025, and have income of $200,000 or less.

Under the current 2027 benefit structure, the maximum annualized Stay NJ benefit is:

Income up to $100,000: Maximum benefit of $6,500

$100,000.01 to $150,000: Maximum benefit of $5,000

$150,000.01 to $200,000: Maximum benefit of $4,000

The actual amount a homeowner receives depends on eligibility, property taxes and other property tax relief benefits received. The state also notes that these maximum amounts are annualized and assume no changes to the program in the Fiscal Year 2028 budget.

For the 2025 tax year benefit, Stay NJ payments are currently scheduled for February and May 2027.

What Is the New Jersey Senior Freeze Program?

Senior Freeze is another important property tax relief program for eligible senior citizens and disabled residents.

Rather than providing a flat benefit, Senior Freeze reimburses eligible residents for certain increases in property taxes on their principal residence. Eligibility depends on requirements including residency, income and age.

Even if you have received Senior Freeze benefits before, do not assume there is nothing you need to do for the 2025 application year.

The deadline to submit the 2025 application is November 2, 2026.

Do You Need to File or Were You Automatically Enrolled?

Here is the simplest place to start:

If you are under 65 and previously received ANCHOR, check whether you received an ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letter from the state.

If you did not receive a confirmation letter but believe you qualify, review your eligibility and file before November 2.

If you are 65 or older, or fall into one of the qualifying disability categories, pay particular attention to the PAS-1 application, because the state does not automatically file it for you.

Because everyone's tax situation is different, verify your eligibility directly with the New Jersey Division of Taxation before applying.

Please Share This With a South Jersey Homeowner Who May Need It

Property taxes are a major expense for many South Jersey homeowners, and these programs can be especially important for people who have owned their homes for many years, are retired, or are considering whether staying in their current home still makes financial sense.

If you have a parent, relative, friend or neighbor in Burlington County, Camden County or Gloucester County, send them this article.

A reminder now could keep someone from missing a benefit they may be eligible to receive.

And if property taxes are only one part of a bigger conversation about your home, I am always happy to be a resource.

Maybe you are wondering:

What is my South Jersey home worth today?

Does it make sense to downsize?

Should I sell my longtime family home or stay where I am?

How would a move affect my next chapter?

You do not have to have all the answers before starting the conversation.

If you are thinking about selling, downsizing or helping a parent make their next move in South Jersey, reach out. I am happy to talk through your options and help you understand what your home could be worth in today's market.